Jacob Davis

Dear Anthony Horowitz,

Your Alex Rider series has helped me overcome many obstacles in my life. I read about the guy who was inventing tools for Alex to use in his missions. He sounded pretty pathetic, and very fat, the kind of person you could gawk at for hours before you actually attempt to talk to him. That was really the realization point that if I kept my eating habits up I would end up like him. At the time I was very large myself, I was at risk of getting type 2 diabetes, and that picture of an immense man who could barley walk was eternally burnt into my mind. My goal in life from there on was to get as far away from that picture as I possibly could in my own appearance. I started to eat less and exercise more. That was not the only goal; I went on to set others later in the series.

Alex was this amazing athlete that I thought I could never even come close to him in fitness. He did things that I never thought were possible, until I found out that people did flips and risky climbing acts all the time. That was when I set the foundation for my new goal. I would become athletic and become more pain resistant. I ran the mile in just under 9 minutes back then while most of the other kids in my grade were running 7 minute miles. I was obviously not in shape whatsoever. I would also cry at a cut when I was that age. When you're doing those types of things you have got to be ready to hurt yourself and suffer through it. This goal I thought would be the hardest.

Alex was also stunningly intelligent and acted quickly, and smartly, to almost any situation. I thought that it would be a good skill to have, so I aimed to be quicker witted. Even if you're smart to start out with it's hard to think quickly if you're not used to it. I have actually given up on this goal and brought myself to believe that people are quick witted or they're not. This is the only goal I have given up on.

I have for the most part, accomplished my goals. I have lost eight pounds in the two and a half years since I finished your series. I have also grown nearly half of a foot. I started to run cross country to help with loosing weight, which has also helped me in my quest to be physically fit. If it weren't for your Alex Rider series I wouldn't have found my potential in cross country. I am now on the varsity team as a freshman, and I have ambitions of lettering this year, which is not far out of grasp. I have also reached my goal of being more pain resistant. The second day of the cross country season I fell off of my bike going at a self-estimated twenty miles per hour. I had to get twelve stitches to my chin and my left hand was scraped so badly that the doctors had no way of stitching it back together. I also scraped both arms and knees badly. I never screamed or cried in pain. The next week I went to practice and ran for eight miles through the pain. Again I thank you for all that your series has helped me. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Jacob Davis